Lorraine's Blog: Two cover shoots and ELLE Collections to plan

What we did at ELLE

I know you all think my life is a series of Ugly Betty style lunches and cocktails (I wish), but in reality I am often desk-bound planning what's going into your magazine. This week has been a particularly good one for ideas, the bit of the job I love most. We have been moodboarding our September and October cover shoots, planning a very special themed issue for October and discussing the features that go into both those big winter issues.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

I've been reading through the 'Ideas for the Editor' inbox we created for my June issueEditor's Letter. You've sent some great ones, so much of my work is done  thank you! And I've been approving all the high-street pieces we are calling in to shoot for our October 60-page Style for Less supplement. The fashion cupboard is packed and we've had to take over an extra room to house all the wonderful pieces you'll be seeing later this year.

We've also started planning ELLE Collections. And, this year, to evolve the award-winning bi-monthly, which is your show bible. I have had some new ideas which will change the way we think about magazines. Can't wait to share them (if they work).

Finally, a thought. I am not often inclined to turn all spiritual on you (if you worked with me, you'd know I have a low threshold on non-science-based belief systems, to put it mildly), but this week I was taken by the positivity and goodwill of the Dalai Lama's visit to the UK (bear with me). He makes a lot of sense in these troubling times, and one of my team  our bookings editor and covers producer Jill Young  went to see him at St Paul's Cathedral. She sat behind Joanna Lumley, who was moved to tears by his speech. He'd just given more than £900,000 to Save the Children and told the audience his pockets were empty. He 'had nothing', but was happy. Jill said it was an incredibly moving experience and it made me wish I'd seen him, too. Every now and again you need to stop and take stock, and maybe ask what makes you happy on a daily basis. I did that today and, apart from the Krispy Kreme doughnut I had at lunch, I decided it was my little boy's face when I surprised him by going to his school assembly. Never seen anyone look so spontaneously happy!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The Gap lookbook

We rely on lookbooks for the new season to help us decide what we're shooting for the issue.

Loewe show invite

This is a bag made of paper. Yes, it is. It's the invite to the show and comes with a note saying it will last only 30 days: longer than any of my healthy-eating plans. A genius idea, which I will no doubt use for ELLE in future.

I am a sucker for a great invite  like this one for the launch of the new Marc Jacobs perfume, Dot.

ELLE, PART OF THE HEARST UK FASHION & BEAUTY NETWORK
ELLE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.